Book Synopsis Finalist for the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry A landmark collection by one of America's major black poets, Good Woman: Poems and a Memoir 1969-1980 includes all of Lucille Clifton's first four published collections of extraordinary vibrant poetry--Good Times, Good News About the Earth, An Ordinary Woman, and Two-Headed Woman--as well as her haunting prose memoir, Generations. Review Quotes My favorite book, this is a must-have poetry collection for both poetry lovers and those who like to think but aren't comfortable with the density of some contemporary poetry. Clifton, as always, uses language that is accessible to craft situations real and vital to her readers. The section "Some Jesus" probes the emotions of plain folks faced with miracles; "Good Times" takes its own snapshots of family in days past; "I Agree with the Leaves" explores the curious and troubling realms of spirituality and the quest for "place" in the cosmos. Good Woman is a fine companion to Clifton's most recent book The Terrible Stories. About the Author Lucille Clifton (1936-2010) was the 2007 recipient of the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, as well as the 2010 Frost Medal from the Poetry Society of America. Her final poetry collection, Voices, was published by BOA in September 2008. She was an award-winning poet, fiction writer, and author of children's books. Her poetry book, Blessing the Boats: New and Selected Poems 1988-2000, won the 2000 National Book Award for Poetry. Two of Clifton's BOA poetry collections, Good Woman: Poems and a Memoir 1969-1980, and, Next: New Poems, were chosen as finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in 1988, the only author ever to have done so, while Clifton's, The Terrible Stories, was a finalist for the 1996 National Book Award. Clifton received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts; an Emmy Award from the American Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; the Shelley Memorial Prize; and the Charity Randall Citation. She served as a Distinguished Professor of Humanities at St. Mary's College in Maryland. She was appointed a Fellow of The American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and elected as Chancellor of The Academy of American Poets in 1999.
A prolific and widely respected poet, Lucille Clifton’s work emphasizes endurance and strength through adversity, focusing particularly on African-American experience and family life. Awarding the prestigious Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize to Clifton in 2007, the judges remarked that “One always feels the looming humaneness around Lucille Clifton’s poems—it is a moral quality that some poets […]
Former Maryland poet laureate and National Book Award winner Lucille Clifton died Saturday at age 73 after a long battle with cancer.
BOUQUET by Lucille Clifton i have gathered my losses into a spray of pain; my parents, my brother, my husband, my innocence all clustered together durable as daisies. now i add you, little love, little flower, who walked unannounced into my life and almost bloomed there.
Despite her fame as a poet, Clifton’s trajectory as a self-described “two-headed woman” is a little-known part of her legacy.
poesia per il mio utero tu utero sei stato paziente come un calzino mentre facevo scivolare dentro te i miei figli vivi e quelli morti adesso ti vogliono tagliare via calza di cui non avrò bisogno dove sto andando andando dove vecchia ragazza senza di te utero mia impronta insanguinata mia cugina d...
In September 2001, Lucille Clifton sent the Academy of American Poets a short manuscript of seven poems, one for each day of the week, entitled “September Suite” in response to the events that transpired on September 11th.
A behind-the-scene look at the life of Lucille Clifton.
won't you celebrate with me
Poet Lucille Clifton created a vibrant home. They lost the house to foreclosure, but now, her children hope to bring it to life again.
hey music and me only white, hair a flutter of fall leaves circling my perfect line of a nose, no lips, no behind, hey white me and i'm wearing white history but there’s no future in those clothes so i take them off and wake up dancing.
Come celebrate with me that everyday something has tried to kill me / and has failed.
In September 2001, Lucille Clifton sent the Academy of American Poets a short manuscript of seven poems, one for each day of the week, entitled “September Suite” in response to the events that transpired on September 11th.
Following threads, breadcrumbs, or seeds can get you into trouble or take you somewhere you've never been. In this case, a treasure hunt...
Hello Teachers/Writers, Spring is in the air and I am busy gathering a new collection. "Of what?" you might ask. Well, I'll tell you. Poems. I am gathering them from lots of different places and getting inspiration from several other bloggers, teachers and kids. One of my favorite sites right now is the Poetry Everywhere site from PBS. Lucille Clifton is one of my favorite poets of all time and I thought this clip would welcome us all into the celebration that is National Poetry month. You can see more of these great videos at the Poetry Everywhere site. Thank you PBS! Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival "won't you celebrate with me..." Another favorite of teachers is this poem by Naomi Shihab Nye. Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival "Music lives inside my legs..." I also found a lovely blog, with several great suggestions for anthologies and ways to use poetry in the classroom. Go to http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/ I'll be back with some of my favorite poems and suggestions for ways we can help kids read and write poetry later this month. Happy collecting!
A prolific and widely respected poet, Lucille Clifton’s work emphasizes endurance and strength through adversity, focusing particularly on African-American experience and family life. Awarding the prestigious Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize to Clifton in 2007, the judges remarked that “One always feels the looming humaneness around Lucille Clifton’s poems—it is a moral quality that some poets […]
